Law aims to end spate of runouts

AUSTRALIA'S batting coach for much of this summer, Stuart Law, does not believe the hosts' recent spate of runouts is a ''massive issue'' but acknowledges the problem should be addressed urgently.

Law, who temporarily returns as batting coach for Friday's one-day international, said Australia was ''not following basics'' with its running between the wickets.

There have been runouts - six in total - in each of Australia's past five matches, a trend Law wants to see end.

''I don't think it's a massive issue, but if we don't respect it and give it the proper attention, it could be a problem down the track,'' he said.

''What seems to be the problem is we're not following basics; it becomes easier to slip into bad habits.''

Law has identified issues such as batsmen ball-watching and carrying their gloves when at the non-striker's end as contributing to the problem. ''If you know you're going for two the moment you hit it you've got to get up and back as quick as you can - the less time watching the ball the better,'' Law said.

''If you're running with your head sideways and not forwards, you can't run like the clappers.''

Law described runouts as ''wasteful and needless''. Test opener Ed Cowan missed the chance to cash in during the SCG Test after being run out in shoddy fashion.

So too Usman Khawaja, who was dumped from the ODI side after failing to get back to his crease on debut in Melbourne last week.

David Hussey, another Test aspirant, was set for a sizeable score in Adelaide before he was involved in a mix-up with Victorian teammate Glenn Maxwell and left stranded.

''They're desperate to do well for themselves and [the] country to make sure they get another game,'' said Law. ''But if they get run out and miss the next game is it because of the runout? You don't know.''

Law - who rates David Warner, George Bailey and Michael Clarke among the best runners in the current ODI squad - said he did not believe the change in personnel in the top order was a factor.

''When you're out in the middle and you haven't batted with the others you need to come up with a plan when you're running between the wickets,'' he said. ''Ninety-nine out of 100 times, if both batsmen are looking for the same single, very rarely will they be run out.''

Law disagreed that running could be practised at training. ''It's about the basics; if we don't know the basics we shouldn't be lining up playing for [the] country.''

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